Best Western European Raw Milk Cheese Types
Considered to be among the world's top quality cheeses, Parmigiano Reggiano is made with raw, semi-skimmed milk from cows grazing on fresh grass and hay. It has a hard, gritty texture and its flavors range from nutty to robust and slightly piquant, depending on how long the cheese had matured.
The origins of Parmigiano Reggiano date back to the Middle Ages, when the Benedictine and Cistercian monks reclaimed the Po Valley wetlands and started producing this much-prized cheese. Since it originated and was mainly produced in the two city-states Parma and Reggio Emilia, the cheese was named Parmigiano Reggiano, meaning "a cheese from Parma and Reggio Emilia." The cheese got its name in the 19th century, and the word order is speculated to be purely due to alphabetical order.
Pair with
THE BEST Parmigiano Reggiano Cheeses

Caseificio di Gavasseto e Roncadella
Parmigiano Reggiano Oltre 40 Mesi
World Cheese Awards - Super Gold 2022

Caseificio Sociale Canevaccia
Parmigiano Reggiano Oltre 40 Mesi
World Cheese Awards - Super Gold 2021
Latteria Sociale Moderna
Parmigiano Reggiano Stagionato 30-39 Mesi
World Cheese Awards - Super Gold 2024

Produced in the region of Basilicata, Canestrato di Moliterno is made from whole goat's and sheep's milk. It is matured in the so-called fondaci, a type of dry, cold, but well-ventilated semi-underground warehouse typical for the Moliterno area.
Depending on the length of maturation, this hard Italian cheese can be either quite sweet or piquant in flavor, and it can be found marketed in three different varieties: Primitivo, ripened for up to 6 months; Stagionato, ripened for up to 12 months, and Stravecchio, ripened for over a year.
Pair with
Saint-Félicien is a soft French cheese originating from the region of Rhône-Alpes. The cheese is made from cow’s milk and has a creamy texture, while its flavor can be described as fruity, sour, nutty, and buttery. During the aging process, it develops a bloomy rind with a strong mushroomy aroma which does not really match the flavors of the cheese.
Due to its fragile nature, this cheese often comes packaged in small terracotta pots. It is recommended to pair it with crusty baguettes, olives, or a glass of red wine.
Serra da Estrela is a semi-soft cheese made from the milk of Bordaleira Serra da Estrela and Churra Mondegueira breeds of sheep. Milking is done by hand, after which the milk is heated, salted, and curdled using thistle extract.
The curd is formed into cheeses, which are left to ripen in humid and cold conditions. The cheese has a creamy, semi-soft interior that is yellowish-white in color, while its flavor is clean, sweet, and slightly sour. This cheese is Portugal's oldest, most traditional food product with international acclaim.
Pair with
Produced exclusively on the island of Sardinia, Pecorino Sardo is a semi-cooked, hard cheese made with whole milk from the pasture-grazing Sarda sheep. This breed is indigenous to Sardinia, raised throughout Italy and considered to be among the best domestic breeds for milk production.
Highly adaptable to different terrains, Sarda sheep feed on fragrant Mediterranean shrubs, which gives Pecorino its distinctive aromatic flavor. It is available in two varieties: Pecorino Sardo Dolce (mild), a sweet and more delicate version, and Pecorino Sardo Maturo (mature), a much stronger flavored cheese that's matured for at least 2 months and pleasantly piquant.
Pair with
Chavignol is a small cheese made from raw goat's milk that must weigh at least 60 grams. Its color is white or ivory and it has a dense, moist texture with a thin, moldy rind on the outside. The flavor of Chavignol is full, slightly nutty and 'goaty'.
It can mature for up to three months, and when the rind drastically changes its color and becomes very hard, and the body becomes drier and crumbly, the origin of its name - crottin, meaning horse dung in French, is explained. Chavignol is great when grilled and served hot on a salad or eaten with bread and bacon.
Azeitão is a semi-soft cheese made from unpasteurized sheep milk. The origins of this cheese date back to the 19th century, when Gaspar Henriques de Paiva emigrated to the town of Azeitão. Out of nostalgia for his place of birth, he imported black dairy sheep from his home town to Azeitão and brought cheesemakers from Beira Baixa to make cheeses.
De Paiva's Azeitão cheeses quickly became famous throughout Portugal, winning several awards at agricultural fairs. The milk for this cheese is taken from sheep that graze on natural vegetation in the pastures of Azeitão. The sheep are milked manually, and the milk is mixed with the extract of a local variety of thistle to start the curdling process instead of animal rennet, meaning the cheese is 100% vegetarian.
Pair with
First produced in the 11th century by the Cistercian monks of the Santa Maria di Rovegnano Abbey in Chiaravalle Milanese, Grana Padano is known as one of the very few parmesan cheeses that can possibly compete with the far more famous Parmigiano-Reggiano.
This hard cheese is made from unpasteurized, semi-skimmed cow’s milk and it is available in these varieties: Grana Padano, Trentin Grana, and Grana Grattugiato. It is sold at different ripening stages: Grana Padano (9-16 months), Grana Padano Oltre 16 mesi (over 16 months) and Grana Padano Riserva (over 20 months).
VARIATIONS OF Grana Padano
THE BEST Grana Padano Cheeses

Latteria San Pietro
Grana Padano DOP Selezione da Fieno 50 mesi
World Cheese Awards - Super Gold 2024

Consorzio Latterie Virgilio
Grana Padano Riserva MN424 Virgilio Selezione
World Cheese Awards - Gold 2023

Reblochon is a semi-hard, pressed cheese with a weight of about 500 grams, made from unpasteurized cow's milk that must ripen for at least 15 days in the departments of Savoie and Haute-Savoie in France. According to an old tale, it exists because a farmer made the milk into cheese to hide a part of his milk production in order to lower his "milk taxes" that he paid to the pasture's owners.
Reblochon has a yellow to orange rind with an ivory body inside. Its rind is edible, and the taste of the cheese is nutty and slightly fruity. The smell is intense and reminiscent of cellars in which it has matured. It melts well and tastes great on baked potatoes.
THE BEST Reblochon Cheeses
Comté is a big, hard cheese made from unpasteurized cow's milk, with at least 45% fat and a pressed, cooked paste. Each cheese wheel is unique with numerous taste varieties that can range from milky, spicy, roasted to fruity, buttery or plant-like due to the fact the milk it is made from must be used immediately.
It is made in the Jura massif in the caves of Doubs, Jura and Haute-Saône departments in France. The maturation period lasts at least 120 days and it is turned and scrubbed regularly during the process. Comté also has a seasonal stamp, like winter, summer, mountain Comté or plains Comté.
THE BEST Comté Cheeses

Best Western European Raw Milk Cheese Producers
Isigny Sainte-Mère is a cooperative dairy located in Normandy, France, specializing in producing Camembert cheese, butter, and cream with milk sourced from the local area. The cooperative was established in 1932 and takes advantage of the rich grasses of Normandy, which impart a particular quality and flavor to its dairy products.
Isigny Sainte-Mère also holds a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status for some of its products, such as Isigny butter and Isigny cream, ensuring they meet strict geographical and quality criteria.
AWARDS

Concours International de Lyon - Gold
2025

Great Taste Awards - 3 stars
2024

Great Taste Awards - 2 stars
2024, 2021
BEST Isigny Sainte-Mère Cheeses
Nuova Castelli, based in Reggio Emilia, Italy, specializes in the production and distribution of Italian cheeses, including PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) products such as Parmigiano Reggiano and Gorgonzola. The company was established in 1892 and has expanded its operations internationally, exporting Italian cheeses to various markets around the world.
Nuova Castelli supports traditional cheese-making techniques while also implementing modern technologies to ensure quality and sustainability.
AWARDS

World Cheese Awards - Super Gold
2023

World Cheese Awards - Gold
2021

Concours International de Lyon - Gold
2025
BEST Nuova Castelli Cheeses
AWARDS

Italian Cheese Awards - Nominee
2023, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017

Italian Cheese Awards - ICA
2022, 2019, 2017, 2015
BEST Caseificio Inmasseria Cheeses
Caseificio Pennar is located in Italy, specializing in producing Asiago cheese, a traditional Italian cheese made from cow's milk. The cheese company is known for following traditional methods that have been passed down through generations, focusing on quality and authenticity.
They offer a range of cheeses aged for different periods.
AWARDS

Concours International de Lyon - Gold
2025

Global Cheese Awards - Gold
2024, 2023

Global Cheese Awards - Best
2023
BEST Caseificio Pennar Cheeses
AWARDS

World Cheese Awards - Gold
2023, 2022

International Cheese Awards - Gold
2024, 2023, 2022, 2019
BEST Zanetti Cheeses
El Buen Pastor de Oropesa, located in Castilla-La Mancha, Spain, is renowned for its artisanal sheep cheese. The cheese is traditionally made from raw milk and aged in the cool environment of a cellar in a former convent from the 16th century. This dairy maintains a small herd of livestock to ensure both the quality of their cheese and the sustainability of their practices.
El Buen Pastor has been recognized for its exceptional products with multiple awards at the World Cheese Awards, including Gold and Super Gold in 2021-22, and Silver in 2017-18. Moreover, the dairy was a finalist in the 2022 Championship of the Best Cheeses of Spain.
AWARDS

World Cheese Awards - Super Gold
2021

World Cheese Awards - Gold
2021
AWARDS

World Cheese Awards - Gold
2023, 2021

World Cheese Awards - Super Gold
2024, 2021
BEST Quesería Artesanal Las RRR Cheeses
Best Western European Raw Milk Cheeses
Don Carlo is an Italian cheese made from the raw milk of Bruna Alpina cows. This cheese is semi-hard, and it matures for several months, resulting in a rich, complex flavor profile. It has a smooth, creamy texture with a slightly nutty taste, complemented by hints of butter and grass.
The aging process also imparts a mild spiciness to the cheese, making it a versatile option for pairing with a variety of foods, especially cured meats, fruits, and wines. Don Carlo is known for its natural rind and is often enjoyed as a table cheese or grated over dishes.
AWARDS

Italian Cheese Awards - ICA
2019, 2017, 2015
Parmigiano Reggiano PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) made by Castelli is a high-quality Italian cheese renowned for its rich flavor and granular texture. Crafted using traditional methods, it is made from raw cow's milk and aged for a minimum of 12 months to develop its characteristic taste.
This cheese is often used grated over pasta, risotto, and soups, or enjoyed on its own with wine and fruits.
AWARDS

Global Cheese Awards - Best
2024

Global Cheese Awards - Gold
2024, 2023
Gran Pennar di Montagna is a cheese produced by Caseificio Pennar, a dairy located in the Asiago plateau region of Italy. The cheese is known for its hard texture and rich, savory flavor. It is likely aged for several months to develop its complex taste profile, which includes nutty and slightly sweet undertones.
This cheese is typically used in culinary applications where a robust flavor is desired, such as grating over pastas, soups, or salads.
AWARDS

Global Cheese Awards - Gold
2024, 2023

Global Cheese Awards - Best
2023
Roquefort Revelation is a refined blue cheese made from raw sheep's milk, originating from the renowned Roquefort-sur-Soulzon region of France. It offers a complex flavor profile with creamy, tangy, and slightly sweet notes, complemented by distinct umami from its blue veins.
The cheese has a creamy yet crumbly texture and is aged in natural caves, allowing it to develop its unique characteristics. Ideal for pairing with fruits like figs and pears, as well as robust red and dessert wines, Roquefort Revelation is a luxurious choice for cheese boards and gourmet dishes.
AWARDS

International Cheese Awards - Gold
2022
Queso de cabra leche cruda Gran Reserva made by Quesería Artesanal "Las RRR" is a type of cheese crafted from raw goat's milk. This cheese is known for its rich, complex flavors and is aged to perfection, allowing its characteristics to fully develop.
The Quesería Artesanal "Las RRR" specializes in artisanal cheese production, ensuring traditional methods are adhered to in order to produce high-quality cheeses. The aging process, labeled as "Gran Reserva," indicates that the cheese has been matured for an extended period, enhancing its depth of flavor and texture.
AWARDS

World Cheese Awards - Gold
2021
AWARDS

World Cheese Awards - Gold
2021
The Raw Milk Camembert made by Isigny Sainte-Mère is a traditional French cheese renowned for its creamy texture and rich, earthy flavor. Produced from raw cow's milk sourced from the lush pastures of Normandy, this cheese undergoes a meticulous production process that preserves its robust taste and complex aroma.
Famously encased in a white, velvety rind, the interior of the Camembert is typically soft and often oozes slightly when cut, offering a delightful experience for cheese aficionados. This product is often enjoyed with crusty bread, fruits, or paired with wines for an authentic gastronomic delight.
AWARDS

International Cheese Awards - Gold
2024, 2022
AWARDS

International Cheese Awards - Gold
2024
TasteAtlas food rankings are based on the ratings of the TasteAtlas audience, with a series of mechanisms that recognize real users and that ignore bot, nationalist or local patriotic ratings, and give additional value to the ratings of users that the system recognizes as knowledgeable. For the “Top 100 Western European Raw Milk Cheeses” list until March 14, 2025, 13,610 ratings were recorded, of which 10,030 were recognized by the system as legitimate. TasteAtlas Rankings should not be seen as the final global conclusion about food. Their purpose is to promote excellent local foods, instill pride in traditional dishes, and arouse curiosity about dishes you haven’t tried.